Approval for the program was given on Tuesday and is a key part of the Obama Administration for green job growth.
State Energy Offices in 16 states will receive $508 million, or 50 percent of the program’s full funding. States receiving the funding are Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, and Washington.
Thirty-nine other states and territories will have their programs reviewed before receiving funding. Action for the plans is expected by the end of July.
Ohio, Oregon, Virginia and West Virginia were given the green light for their energy programs and was approved of a combined $98 million in federal funding.
“This funding will provide an important boost for state economies, help put Americans back to work, and move us toward energy independence,” said DOE Secretary Steven Chu. “It reflects our commitment to support innovative state and local strategies to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy while insisting that taxpayer dollars be spent responsibly.”
Other federal energy spending under the stimulus plan includes $5 billion for the Weatherization Assistance Program which seeks to reduce energy bills by making homes energy efficient. Over $3 billion will be allocated for local cities as part of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program, and $4.4 billion will be used for developing a national “smart grid” for electricity transmission.
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